Sinn Fein MP Barry McElduff resigns following Kingsmill controversy

Sinn Féin's Barry McElduff is set to stand down from his seat as West Tyrone MP with immediate effect.

McElduff received backlash across the political spectrum in Northern Ireland after he posed with a Kingsmill loaf of bread on his head on anniversary of the Kingsmill massacre, where 10 Protestants where killed by the IRA in Armagh in 1976.

Apologising for the "deep and unnecessary hurt" caused to victims and their families, McElduff also reiterated his insistence that he had not meant the video to reference the massacre.

“I again offer my profound apology to those families and to the wider victims’ community,” he said.

“Had I been conscious of the connection to the terrible atrocity at Kingsmill I would certainly not have posted that tweet. I genuinely did not make that connection, not for a second did I make that connection in my mind.

“Kingsmill was wrong, unjustifiable and sectarian. It should never have happened.”

Sinn Fein had originally punished McElduff by suspending him for three months, while still being fully paid. This was widely criticised by unionists, and some nationalists, at the time.

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